Bus operator Trentbarton will pay tribute to the Armed Forces community by emblazoning 185 of its buses with poppies in the run-up to Remembrance Day.

The symbolic display will feature on 17 bus routes, including 10 lines in Nottingham, from tomorrow (Wednesday, November 1).

They are the red arrow, skylink Nottingham, indigo, i4, mainline, Calverton connection, rainbow one, the two, three, six and nine.

It follows an £800 donation by the firm to Royal British Legion's annual Poppy Appeal – trentbarton will support the Armed Forces community with 185 of their buses proudly wearing poppies, from November 1, in the run up to Remembrance Day.

Skylink route bus driver Jon Hickman, of Beeston , has worked for trentbarton for six years.

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He served in the Army from 1988 to 1993 as an ex-infantryman and was positioned in Northern Ireland, the Falklands and Cyprus, so has a strong emotional connection to the Poppy Appeal.

Mr Hickman said:“I wear a poppy every day so having a poppy on the bus means a lot to me.

" Remembrance Day is a sombre day but I also remember the good times I had in the Army.

“Quite a few of our drivers have served, and not just in the Army but in the Navy and the RAF too.

Mr Hickman also has two poppy tattoos. One accompanies the quote "Always Remember. Never Forget", while the other is next to a shadow of a soldier over a gravestone.

Pictured in the foreground is Brian Brown (left) and Ged Wilson (right), both of the Royal British Legion, with trentbarton bus driver Jon Hickman (centre) (Image: Lionel Heap)

He added: "I’m proud that trentbarton supports the Legion by backing the Poppy Appeal.

"People need to support what forces do and have done for all of us.

"Anything anyone gives is a significant amount. Whether it's £800, £8 or 8p, it is a big donation.

"People should get behind the parades, even though they aren’t as big here as the London or Manchester ones.

"We need to show our support to the men and women who gave their lives for us.”

Jordan Kemp, marketing and communications manager at trentbarton , said: “The Poppy Appeal plays a key role helping people and organisations to remember the sacrifices made by the British Armed Forces.

“Our drivers and buses are key parts of local communities across the East Midlands.

"Many of our team members are ex-service personnel so trentbarton is pleased to show our support and remembrance.”

Brian Brown, community support officer for the Royal British Legion's Ilkeston branch, added: "The Royal British Legion is asking the nation to Rethink Remembrance by recognising the sacrifices made by the Armed Forces community, past and present.

“By wearing a poppy, you aren’t just remembering the fallen: you’re supporting a new generation of veterans and service personnel that need our support.